The latest Spitfire try taken to brand new COGEA foot at the Middlekerke, Ostend, in which it had been joined OO-ARD, and very quickly inserted solution

To your reason for the movie a huge Mix out-of Lorraine emblem was applied towards flights to help you represent the 100 % free French squadron

During the Summer 1956 MH415 try offered in order to good Belgian providers, COGEA (Compagnie Gnrale dExploitation Aronautique), which in fact had a goal-towing price into Belgian and you may NATO pushes. COGEA got before operated individuals white aircraft pulling ads and you will similar, but once brand new military address pulling contract emerged, the brand new Percival Proctors they certainly were playing with did not have the fresh performance called for. This new Belgian Sky Forces last couple of Spitfires given just the right chance, and you will COGEA purchased six of those to run because of their army deal. Period photo show the fresh flights from inside the a clean aluminum livery which have green nosecone and you will tail. In 1961 it actually was leased to have motion picture include in The brand new Longest Day, that was filmed on location for the France.

With the 14th Can get MH415 showed up with the film unit from the RAF North Weald inside the Essex, and you can was later on centered at the Debden, Duxford and you can Hawkinge

The aircraft try painted from inside the good camouflage program and you may flown with 340 (Ile-de-france) Squadron rules GW-R. Within the September 1961 the fresh new aircraft brought about a stir because of the appearing at the this new Oberwil downtown escorts RAF Race from Britain air display on Biggin Slope from inside the its livery throughout the Longest Go out, flown by the Pierre Laureys, an excellent French World war ii Spitfire airplane pilot. It’s know that MH415 was the past airworthy Spitfire in order to getting ended up selling from the COGEA, and is thought that it actually was from the Ostend while the late once the December 1964. MH415 is actually ordered from COGEA by Rousseau Aviation from Dinhard during the France, to the amount of 8, 000 francs into ish Mahaddie is actually get together together routes toward imminent flick The battle regarding Britain, and you can just after a study by John Simpson, MH415 was purchased for an enthusiastic undisclosed share.

The fresh flights is dismantled and you may sent of the Simpson’s Aeroservices Ltd in the Elstree to have a redesign, registered Grams-AVDJ, in order to Mahaddie on 29th December 1966. It actually was attempt flown and you can brought to the film equipment at RAF Henlow at the beginning of 1967 from the T An effective Davies. The latest routes was stored, their Merlin 66 motor inhibited, during the the majority of 1967, and it wasn’t flown once again up to November, if it was given an alternate Certification off Airworthiness, being decide to try flown for the 29th of that week because of the T A Davies at Henlow. During the early 1968 shooting got were only available in The country of spain, and also as an effective Spitfire is actually necessary for location works, MH415 is actually chosen and you may wishing within Henlow and you may Luton. Good ninety-gallon miss-container is fitting and differing sample flights carried out throughout March from the Henlow, Luton and you will Farnborough from the Lt Cdr Yards T Hynett.

When you look at the later March MH415 leftover the uk, flying through France so you’re able to Tablada Sky Base from inside the The country of spain. For this a lot of time airline it was flown from the V H Bellamy. Film place work as N3312/ AI-C adopted when you look at the Spain, flown in the primary of the Lt Cdr Hynett. The fresh new Spitfire this new showed up back in The united kingdomt in the Manston into 11th Get 1968, during the team having a gaggle away from Messerschmitts, a couple of Heinkels and you can Jeff Hawke within the a b-25 digital camera-vessel. The elements in the 1968 is usually United kingdom, as well as the flick company was in fact not having enough big date. Fund was also resulting in troubles, which try made a decision to move the brand new aerial device for the a good climate of your own South out of France.

MH415 and a number of other Spitfires and lots of Messerschmitts was in fact flown over to Montpelier from inside the August for three months, plus the expected video footage is actually acquired under the sun. MH415 used many markings throughout shooting, also N3312/ AI-C, N3311/ CD-B, N3321/ AI-Yards, N2210/ CD-A beneficial, N3310/ AI-An effective, Letter3322/ AI/ N, N3319/ DO-K and you will N3314/ AI-E. That it Spitfire is fitting with strobe bulbs in the machine gun harbors and you can was flown to own a maximum of 125 period during filming. Inside the Oct 1968 it absolutely was mainly based within Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, and soon after you to definitely few days was utilized in the filming bail-away images within Netheravon Wiltshire. Among film equipment pilots, Texan Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards, gotten MH415 for the achievement of their film obligations therefore is actually dismantled from the Bovingdon of the Simpson’s Aeroservices having shipments so you can Houston, Texas, where they found its way to January 1969.